asheville nc shopping

Asheville furniture comes in many shapes and sizes, and several levels when it comes to quality furnishings. Divine Living Furniture in south Asheville is a hidden gem when it comes to interior design and home decor, whether you are in a new home or simply redoing an existing one. When we first walked in the door not too long ago, we immediately noticed a difference, we knew right away that this was not just another furniture store. The pieces were beautiful and they seemed carefully selected. While talking to Phyllis, the owner, she explained that she represents a few key top lines when it comes to furniture, such as Norwalk, Kincaid, John Thomas and more. She told us that if we were looking for furniture just to get by, this was not the place. “These pieces will be a part of your family for many years, so we customize them to fit your home, lifestyle, and you.” That is what I wanted to hear. Glad we found this place and we are planning on using this store to supply all of the furniture for our new home. Watch the video above and learn more about Divine Living Furniture.

When you think about all of the communities being built up on all ends of Asheville and Buncombe County, there are a few that quickly come to mind. Of course you have Biltmore Village, which was a community built for the workers who were constructing the Biltmore Estate. They recently had a wonderful grocery store named Katuah Market open which sort of completes that area. Except for housing, which the Biltmore Property Group has several plans in the works to make that happen. Then you have Biltmore Park Town Square, which was started several years ago, and has some key attractions such as a movie theater, restaurants, offices and a YMCA; in addition to their community of homes and condos. The East and West sides of Asheville have nothing even similar to these, but Reynolds Village, on Reynolds Mountain, is laying the foundation for the North side of town.

We recently took a ride up to visit the Reynolds Village Shops and see what they had going on. It was kind of quiet, but this place is up and coming, and not too established yet. They survived the great economy depression of this era and made it through. The focus was most likely survival during those times. As it seems, they do not have an effective marketing team that is building relationships with the community and vendors yet, so the buzz is low and it is not yet exploding with growth. They do not have a website for the business community and theloftsasheville.com site listed on the Shops at Reynolds Village Facebook page is a dead link. The ReynoldsMountain.com website is dated and has a big dead space through the center of it at the moment. What we are saying is that they are piecing things together and still have a lot of work to do. So from online perception, it may still seem “under construction” if you may. But this is not the case. There are plenty of stores open with merchandise that you want and need. As far as the “big picture”… it is coming soon, and we are placing our bets on this being a hot-spot on the north side in the near future. As pictured above, they do have a beautiful water fountain that we enjoyed sitting by and listening to. A nice mid-day break.

Of course the YMCA is like the staple in these area communities. A great organization which brings a wide variety of folks around, giving exposure and awareness to the great shops in Reynolds Village. Here are some of the shops that you should definitely check out if you are up in that neck of the woods:

A hair salon for both humans, and one for our furry friends. Sorry hamsters and rabbits, this place is for the dogs; and cats. And although Shampoodle’s has the word “Poodle” in it, I believe they accept dogs of all races. Minerva’s Beauty Salon for humans looks like a great spot, and the cuts they show on their Facebook page are beautiful. I would definitely try this place out for my own hair if I was not already committed or if I needed a change.

In addition to the YMCA, there are several other shops that focus on health and fitness, including 9 Round Fitness and Asheville Pilates.

If you have kids, they have a couple of great stores that you must see! First is the Spellbound Children’s Bookshop which has been a wonderful store in the Asheville area for years. You can also purchase their books online. Next is a place called AMPed Up Kids Consignment & Boutique, which features so many quality items for the kiddos. Attention Parents: GET HERE! We had some social conversation with them recently on Twitter and it was good. We definitely need to stop in there soon.

And if art is your forte, the Shops at Reynolds Village features the Andrew Charles Gallery, which is a hidden gem showcasing beautiful local art, and rare collections from times past. Their artifacts are from places such as Egypt, West Africa, New Guinea, Colima West Mexico; with the oldest item being 5500 years old. I have seen nothing like this place in Asheville. Amazing! Studio B is a a framing shop right across the street and features contemporary art from local artists as well. Both of these places are worth the drive alone to see the art.

And there are two shops in here that you ladies will especially love. Kaylynne’s Briar Patch Florist has so many great selections and from what I hear, their creativity is like none other. And… The Knitting Diva, and she is all about yarn! This place actually started as a weekly meeting at the Well-Bred Bakery and grew into this. Talk about Asheville grown!

Livi’s Pantry is a great little grocery store featuring high quality foods, wines and more. We stopped by there recently and had a small lunch, some coffee and a business meeting. The owner was wonderful to us! They have a cute mini wine bar in the back where you can sit and sip some of their great selections. With Vino Vino Wine Market recently closing, this is the perfect place to stop and grab a bottle or two. They also have a deli in the back, and they are serving Boar’s Head Meats; so it must be good!

And Moe’s Original Barbecue is opening shop right outside the gates of Reynold’s Mountain and The Shops at Reynolds Village, and that place is BBQ and Beer Heaven! We definitely know we will be spending a lot more time up this way. You should too!

I have to be honest. Discount, outlet and secondhand stores are not my cup of tea. I am a firm believer in that you get what you pay for. I understand you can find a deal here and there, but I do not hunt. Asheville has a bunch of discount shopping stores all around. In addition to that, there are many consignment shops. Plus places like Goodwill have some great finds here and there. I am all for saving a buck, but not at my expense. Amazon and Ebay have plenty of deals, but you also have to be careful because I have also found out a few times that the retail store prices were actually cheaper. And ladies, watch out for those fake Coach bags! Sometimes you think you are getting a deal, but in reality you’re not. Many years ago, a friend of mine asked why I was buying a shirt at a Superstore in the area. I told him that the shirt was just as good as his Eddie Bauer and Gap shirts. He laughed and went on to explain to me about thread count and the better materials being used, how much longer it lasted, how it cleaned and ironed better, and how much more I would care for something of value. He was right.

Today, I just don’t like cheap merchandise, stuff or anything! I rather one $20 Christmas gift than twenty $1 gifts. Quality over quantity. For example, when a friend of mine first told me about a $50 steak at Ruth’s Chris, my immediate reaction was “it must be great!” And it was. I also remember years ago watching the craze for a line of blue-jeans called Parasuco. I saw a video clip on TV of a pickup truck speeding and crashing through the front of a store, a bunch of guys jumping out with masks, clearing the shelves of only Parasuco jeans, and taking off. That is called a “five finger discount” around here lol. I thought “these jeans must be valuable”… so I went online, saw they were hundreds of dollars on the website, and then I went to Ebay and purchased several pairs for about $70 a piece. With the proper research, that was my type of deal!

Recently, the family decided to stop by Overstock Outlet in Asheville North Carolina. My expectations were low, but after being there for a few minutes, I realized that this place did not stock a bunch of junk. I walked through and was able to find a bunch of quality items of value such as clothing, tents, camping supplies, fishing gear, electronics, housewares, food, gadgets and plenty more. I then understood the level of merchandise they had, and how the discounts were being passed down to local shoppers. These are items that a retail store have too much of, or maybe in a damaged box, and sometimes discontinued selections. Much like the bed mattresses that ReBed offers. I picked out a few things that I could really use, and then my daughter showed up with a big stuffed animal duck in her arms. I estimated the value in my head at $40, looked at the price tag, saw it was only $7, and ended up with a smile on my face. She was excited too!

And she did not want to let her find go, so I chauffeured her around in the shopping cart with Ms. Duck. We also found an easel that was $70 in other stores, and only $13 here. I talked to the owner and he mentioned how they go through every item to assure it is complete and really a good deal. If not, they do not put it on the shelves. The conclusion… we will definitely take a few minutes to stop by every now and then to see what they have. And I will buy here again. Asheville’s Overstock Outlet has 3 area locations, one in Candler on Smoky Park Highway right before you hit Hwy 151. The other is on Sardis Road near the Brevard Rd end. And lastly, they have one in Mills River.

When people think about a mattress, sometimes only sleep comes to mind. In actuality, a mattress is a huge part of your life. Think about it. You spend about one-third of your life on your mattress; or one-quarter if you get as little sleep as I do. Nonetheless, it is very important.

I never thought much about a mattress. It was simply a place to sleep and I did not have an ultra comfortable experience to compare it to. Until one day. I decided to take a leap of faith and purchase a mattress that cost me over a thousand dollars. It was not but a few days and I realized what I had been missing. When it came to where I lay my head, and my tired body… “you get what you pay for” had a whole new meaning to me. Did you know that the right mattress could help you physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and even… sexually? How many of you have woke up hurting, with a bad attitude, feeling like you were missing something, and unbalanced after you planned on a good night’s sleep? A bad mattress can do that to you. If you do not believe me, try it for yourself. Get a high quality mattress for a month and then try going back to your springboard or foam pad. Impossible! You will never be completely satisfied with the lesser again.

Now there are plenty of things you can use a mattress for. Sleep is first. All of us have been there where we just want to hit that mattress and get some rest. It could also be a place to escape a noisy or active home. Then there have been plenty of times my mattress has come in handy to get some work done. A nice comfortable spot where I can pull out my laptop or tablet and finish off a project, or catch up on emails. I have woke up, reached over grabbed my laptop, and worked for hours upon hours on many occasions. The right mattress is also a great place to meditate. Unless you have a “quiet room” in your home, the bedroom and a good mattress on your bed is the best choice for peace and solitude. A mattress could also be a great place to play. Although I have caught myself singing “no more monkeys jumpin on the bed” many times to my little ones; this is the original indoor trampoline to us old timers. As long as you have high ceilings, jumping on the bed as an adult can be an really effective form of self therapy. Go ahead and try it!

And last but not least… have you ever made love on a mattress that sucks? It is a terrible experience. I find myself thinking… “what might have been” if I had a real mattress. Yes, there is a time to use the floor, the couch, the shower, and maybe even the dining room table; but having a wonderful “home sweet home” mattress in your bedroom can definitely contribute to making the magic happen.

When I walked into ReBed of Asheville, I could not believe my eyes; or the mattress prices. I saw mattresses that would put my expensive mattress to shame, and at a fraction of the cost. I asked Josh what they specialized in and he said that Factory Seconds were his main seller. Being a second may mean that it was a floor model in the store, or that it has a mark on it, or maybe it was simply an overstock item that they decided to move on and out. You can sort of think of this place as the TJ Maxx for mattresses.

I also found out that they offer Sanitary Resold mattresses which means they have taken a used mattress and re-sanitized it for resale. As a matter of fact, they are the only place that is State Licensed by the Department of Agriculture this side of Charlotte. With ReBed’s recycling efforts, they have kept over 5000 mattresses out of the landfill last year, and even more this year. That is an amazing work for the environment. Either way, if you are in the market for a mattress, or just realized that you should be; you need to start your search at ReBed and see the great selection they have!

Biltmore Park in South Asheville has proven to be a great spot for the whole family. Whether we are grabbing a bite to eat, having a business meeting, going to workout, or watching a movie; this spot has something for everyone.

REI has plenty of stylish outdoor gear. The perfect spot to shop up, and then go hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway!

The Reuter Family YMCA is the health, fitness and workout spot in south Asheville. They also hold several community events at this location.

Taking the kids to O.P. Taylors is one of their highlights. These folks go above and beyond with the quality and selection of toys. My daughter bought a pair of designer swimming goggles that she does not want to take off. Just about every kid at the pool compliments her. I also got to teach her about the difference in a quality investment when comparing a $2 pair of goggles to a $20 pair; and how we need to take care of the things we have.

City Mac is the Apple headquarters around this neck of the woods. I was walking around and was approached by an Asian guy and he was saying “apple, apple” and I said “excuse me?” He then pulled out his iPhone and I said “oh, City Mac, right there on the right.” He smiled and headed that way.

Stopped by this beautiful store named The Coqui, which in definition is a frog from Puerto Rico. My daughter forced me to stop in here, and I was glad she did. Their selection of decor and items are worth seeing.

Charming Charlie is a must stop for the ladies. From clothing, to jewelry, to trinkets; a huge selection at great prices await you.

Brixx Pizza and Hickory Tavern are two places we enjoy going to. If you are a beer lover, these two spots have so many taps. Plus great food!

The Regal Biltmore Grande movie theater in south Asheville is a great place to watch flicks!

Of course the Hilton Asheville is one of the top hotels in the area, and they have delicious cuisine at their ground level restaurant called Roux.

I did not plan on liking BT’s Burgerjoint at first, but too bad, I love it now. Talk about one of the best burgers in Asheville NC, this place got the goods. Add the awesome manager always on deck, and the great staff; and this place is a sure hit!

Even though I do not have a dog, my daughter dragged me into Woof Gang Bakery. Wow, this place is like a dog heaven! The treats looked better than some bakeries I have been in. But dare not taste them, this spot is for the dogs, literally.

Barnes and Noble is a great bookstore in south Asheville, and they have Wifi, meeting space, a lounge atmosphere, and Starbucks. Win!